Browns @ Steelers
The Browns came into this matchup with four straight wins after getting blown out by the Ravens in Week 1. This was a big test for them to show that they belong in the conversation with the best teams in the AFC going up against the undefeated Steelers in an AFC North battle. The Browns really got deflated from the get-go. They gave up a field goal on the Steelers’ first possession and then Baker Mayfield threw a brutal pick-six on the Browns’ first drive. After that, it was all Steelers. It was 24-7 at half time and 31-7 at the end of the third quarter. In the end, the Steelers coasted to a 38-7 victory and showed that they are a tier above Cleveland right now in the AFC.
Cleveland Browns
Quarterback
Baker Mayfield: 10/18, 119 yards, 1 TD, 2 Ints, 4 Sacks | 1 carry, 5 yards
Case Keenum: 5/10, 46 yards
Baker Mayfield came into this game as questionable with a rib injury. He was pulled at the end of the third quarter for a likely combination of poor play, the game was out of reach, and him taking multiple big hits throughout the game. The Browns’ offensive line was getting a lot of praise going into this game but they looked overmatched all game against this Steelers pass rush. Mayfield was under pressure on 47% of his dropbacks according to PFF. His first interception was a horrible decision where he didn’t see the safety and they jumped the route easily and took it to the house without issue. His second interception was not much better. He did a nice job of escaping pressure but then threw a ball up to his receiver that wasn’t very close that was also easily intercepted. In the end, it was another ugly performance for Mayfield and he should be off of fantasy radars.
Here is a look at his first pick on the first drive.
Minkah Fitzpatrick. Pick-six.#FantasyFootball | #HereWeGo pic.twitter.com/q7YAsCkT8v
— QB List (@TheQBlist) October 18, 2020
Running Backs
Kareem Hunt: 13 carries, 40 yards | 3 targets, 2 receptions, 17 yards
Dontrell Hilliard: 4 carries, 29 yards
D’Ernest Johnson: 4 carries, 1 yard, 1 target, 0 receptions, 1 fumble
Kareem Hunt got game scripted out of this game pretty quickly and was also banged up late in the first quarter. The Browns offensive line got beaten up by the Steelers front-seven. That left Hunt with little room to run. He didn’t play in garbage time to preserve him for next week as the game was already lost. It’s a bit concerning for fantasy purposes that Hunt appears to not be game-flow independent. He was taken out of the last two games in garbage time situations. Hunt and the Browns will be at the Bengals next week and will be an RB1 in the plus matchup.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Odell Beckham Jr.: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 25 yards
Jarvis Landry: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 40 yards
Austin Hooper: 6 targets, 5 receptions, 52 yards
Rashard Higgins.: 2 targets, 1 reception, 13 yards, 1 TD
David Njoku: 3 targets, 1 reception, 7 yards
As noted above, when the quarterback struggles badly, the receivers aren’t likely to put up great numbers. The usual suspects were the ones getting the targets but none of their outputs helped you much in fantasy. Austin Hooper quietly has 23 targets his last three games and five receptions in each of those as well. With how ugly the tight end position has been this year, Hooper has crept into the TE1 mix. Jarvis Landry was underwhelming once again and left for a period of time as he has been dealing with a myriad of injuries. He is just a WR4 at the moment. Odell Beckham Jr. wasn’t very involved in this one as the offense as a whole struggled. He is going to be an inconsistent WR2 because of his quarterback play. Rashard Higgins caught a wide-open 13-yard touchdown in the second quarter on a busted coverage but can be avoided in fantasy leagues.
Here is a look at the easy Higgins score
Baker to Rashard Higgins.#FantasyFootball | #Browns pic.twitter.com/vLJera8BhG
— QB List (@TheQBlist) October 18, 2020
Pittsburgh Steelers
Quarterback
Ben Roethlisberger: 14/22, 162 yards, 1 TD, 2 sacks | 3 carries, 5 yards
Ben Roethlisberger didn’t make any mistakes but really didn’t do much through the air. He completed just three passes more than 10 yards down the field. It didn’t matter much as the Steelers defense dominated the Browns’ offense and the Steelers coasted to the victory. Roethlisberger hasn’t shown much of a ceiling this year. One of his five games has gone over 239 passing yards and he has lived off of touchdown efficiency, as he has thrown multiple in four of five games. He will face the Titans next in what lines up to be a good matchup for him and be a decent QB2.
Running Backs
James Conner: 20 carries, 101 yards, 1 TD | 1 targets, 1 reception, 1 yard
Benny Snell: 6 carries, 17 yards | 1 target, 1 reception, 4 yards
James Conner is the clear lead back in this offense. When this game was in any sort of doubt, Conner was in there the vast majority of the time which is encouraging to see. He was constantly breaking off chunk run after chunk run with his 21 opportunities. It was a bit disappointing he wasn’t involved more in the passing game as he usually is but I feel that is just a one-week blip. Benny Snell scored a mid-fourth-quarter garbage time touchdown and continues to look inefficient with his touches. Conner will be an RB1 going forward with his great usage against the Titans.
Benny Snell Football! #Steelers pic.twitter.com/Qdw0Rmz1Dv
— That Blitz Guy (@ThatBlitzGuy) October 18, 2020
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
JuJu Smith-Schuster: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 6 yards
Eric Ebron: 4 targets, 2 receptions, 9 yards
Chase Claypool: 4 targets, 4 receptions, 74 yards | 2 carries, 7 yards, 1 TD
James Washington: 7 targets, 4 receptions, 68 yards, 1 TD
Week 1/2 darling Diontae Johnson did not play in this one. James Washington was involved early and often in this one. He was targeted three times on the first drive and four total before either JuJu Smith-Schuster or Chase Claypool registered one. His touchdown was on a beautiful double-move complemented by Big Ben’s pump fake for an easy touchdown.
WIDE OPEN 👀@JamesWashington | 📺 CBS 📱https://t.co/tI5aUTu7te pic.twitter.com/KThCLo9Ziu
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 18, 2020
Claypool caught a deep pass from Roethlisberger that set up the short James Connor touchdown run. He also took an end-around for a touchdown late in the third quarter.
.@ChaseClaypool's second rushing touchdown of the season!
📺 CBS 📱https://t.co/tI5aUTu7te pic.twitter.com/pQmsIYuLxN
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) October 18, 2020
It is very hard to trust Smith-Schuster right now. He just isn’t getting targeted often and when he is, the targets are very close to the line of scrimmage. He is going to go into week seven as a WR4 in PPR leagues and is just a flex option for fantasy owners at the moment. This group has a plus matchup against the Titans next week.
-Kevin Taylor (@ktbeast918 on Twitter)